Framing device



W. A. GRAHAM FRAMING DEVICE Dec. 21, 1965 Filed Sept. 10, 1963 INVENTOR.l l ar'd A. Graham BY 7 fiTTORNEY-S.

United States Patent Ofiiice 3,224,754 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,754FRAMING DEVICE Ward A. Graham, W754 Bridlespur Terrace, Kansas City, Mo.Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,818 3 Claims. (Cl. 269-108) Thisinvention relates to devices for use in carpentry, home and buildingconstruction, furniture construction and repair, picture framing, frameconstruction and repair and the like and refers more particularly tosuch devices which may be used by a single artisan or individual toalign, position and rigidly hold the most varied sort of construction,furniture and picture framing elements to join and connect same.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for aiding in theassembly of picture frames or the assembly of elements of furniturepieces or the like which is much easier to operate, more highlyefficient and quicker in terms of results than the known prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which doesnot employ separate rigid members which require their multiple use.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein allelements thereof are integrated into a single unit which is adequate fora very large multiplicity of size ranges as opposed to the known priorart devices for like purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can beutilized to aid in the assembly of triangular, rectangular, pentagonalor polygonal frames or structures of various types.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device whichprovides a concentration of compressive forces across the bodies of thevarious frames or structural members in such manner that virtuallyguarantees the success of each and every framing or assembly jobattempted.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein, inframing, for example, no nails, screws, corners, dowel pins or the likeare needed in assembly of the frame, only glue, as the compression ofthe frame in assembly is so great that only glue is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved turnbuckleconstruction which aids in the operation of the instant invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cable or wireclamping and engaging device which additionally aids in the operationand use of the instant improvement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framing and assemblydevice which may be utilized with frame members or structural members tobe assembled which have any profile external edge, such profilesaccommodated by preparing matching inserts for the corner members of theframing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as describedwhich is of great and extreme simplicity, complete safety in operation,ready accessibility of all parts for repair or cleaning, and easydisassembly and assembly of the entire device for replacement of one ormore of its parts. The device is also exceedingly inexpensive andconstructed of easily obtained materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framing, furnituremaking, cabinet making, etc. device which is so constructed as to permitthe user or operator to tighten the framing assembly with one hand atany desired speed, while using the other hand to finally adjust or alignthe frame members.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and areto be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the instantinvention is shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employedto indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a picture frame element assembly with thesubject apparatus engaged thereon in joining relationship and action.Portions of the frame and device are cut away to better illustrate theconstruction and relationship in action thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 from the right in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 4 is a perspective vciew of a preferred form of cable clip employedin the framing device assembly.

Referring, then, to the figures, the framing device assembly includesindividual right angle corner members 10, 11, 12 and 13 (in theparticular adaptation shown) joined together in series by a singlelength 14 of high tensile strength wire, cord, chain, etc. Cable or wire14 is threaded through openings 10a-13a, inclusive, provided througheach of the respective corner members. Passages or openings 10a-13a,inclusive, are preferably drilled perpendicularly to a line bisectingthe interior engaging face angle of the corner member. Each opening orpassage is received internally of the respective corner member and ispreferably so constructed or lined as to be relatively friction free.Optionally, a sheave or pulley member 15 (FIGS. 1 and 3) rotatablymounted on an axle 16 may be provided in an opening 17 at the insidejuncture of the corner member legs whereby to receive cable or wire 14in rotation thereon for low friction movement of the cable through thepassage. The pulley could be externally mounted on the corner but thiswould be less desirable.

The picture frame members here illustrated extend at right angles to oneanother and designated Isa-18d, inclusive. The ends thereof are miteredat 45 to provide such right angle juncture with one another. Shouldthere be an equiangular triangular frame structure to be joinedtogether, the device corner members would comprise three in number, eachhaving an internal facing angle of 60. For an hexagonal frame, therewould be provided six corner members, each having an internal facingangle of etc.

One end of cable or wire 14 is connected as at 14a to the loop of onescrew member 20a of a turnbuckle 20. Turnbuckle 20 has other screwmember 2017, through the loop of which the other end of the wire threadsas at 14b, and cage 20c. Cage 200 has preferably two openings throughthe sides thereof (not seen) through which extend a shaft 20d of aturning handle having enlarged ends 202. Ends 2% are enlarged wherebynot to pass through said shaft openings. Turning handle 20d oscillatesback and forth through the openings in cage 200 as the turnbuckle isturned each to give a lever action and ease the effort required totighten down the assembly.

A rough tightening clip generally designated 21 has parallel cable orwire receiving passages 21a and 21b therethrough, the latter having aset screw 21c adapted to compress cable or wire portions passingtherethrough. The free end of cable 14 is seen at 140. The total lengthof cable or wire 14 is variable according to the circumferential lengthof the frame or furniture assembly which is desired to be enclosed andcompressed. There must be suflicient cable length to reach around theassembly, pass through all of the in-place corner members, engageturnbuckle screw portion 20b and loop back through passage 21b in clip20 after initially passing through passage 21a thereof.

In use of the device, the frame members 18a18d, inclusive, are firstglue-applied at their miter-engaging faces as at 22-25, inclusive, andthen set in level and relatively proper position with all matching facesin contact. This is preferably on some horizontal surface such as a workbench top. The framing device is then fitted around members 18a-18d,inclusive, with corner members -13, inclusive, engaging each framecorner. At this time, clip 21 is opened by backing off set screw 21c andcable 14 is slipped therethrough to provide an ample length of cable toeasily and conveniently set the framing corner members 10-13, inclusive,in place. The depth of the corner members (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is shownas greater than the depth of the framing pieces, but this is onlypreferable, not necessary. It is best if the depth of the framingmembers is at least equal to the depth of the frame pieces whereby therewill not be an excess of force applied to only a portion of the depth ofthe frame pieces and possible grooving or the like thereof occur understrong compression. If the frame pieces are configured in transversesection at the outer faces thereof, oppositely configured interfittingcorner member inserts may be prepared and received within the innerfaces of corner members 10-13, the same having smooth outer faces toabut against the corner member inner faces and thus provide uniformapplication of force to the frame pieces.

Also during the initial fitting process, turnbuckle 20 is so adjustedthat cage 20c is backed off screw members 20a and 20b (the opposite ofthe situation shown in FIG. 1). Once corner members are all in place,the operator grasps the turnbuckle cage 20 with one hand to hold itstable relative to the entire assembly and the free end 140 of the cableor wire 14 in the other and pulls the wire tight by sliding it throughthe loop of screw member 2012 and the two passages 21a and 21b in clip21. Only a preliminary tautness or tightness is achieved thus and thenset screw 210 is turned down and cable 14 is locked into relativeposition by clip 21. Turnbuckle 20 is then tightened to the desireddegree to apply the final precise degree of force desired. The tensionin the wire is transmitted by means of corner members 10-13, inclusive,to frame pieces Isa-18d, inclusive, and the frame pieces are therebycompressed into the corner members whereby compressive force is applieddirectly to and into the matching mitered engaging frame member faces inthe glued portions thereof. The entire frame assembly process can beaccomplished in some 2 to 5 minutes time plus the drying time of theglue used. One turnbuckle 20 is tightened down, no further attention isrequired to the framing assembly or the frame pieces as there iscomplete automatic adjustment and a stable structure in forceequilibrium. It should also be noted that there is no individualengagement or tightening down required whatsoever at each individualcorner member, only an initial positioning in a very unprecise mannerwith the entire takeup and tensioning operation being accomplished inthe rough and fine connection means.

Once the glue has dried, the operator may remove the device by backingoff turnbuckle 20 to a lesser tension level and then releasing set screw210. The entire framing device, as a unit assembly, then may be liftedoff the completed frame.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative clip fastener 28 usable both in place ofclip or fastener 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the knot used to secure thecable on the other end of the turnbuckle in those views. Fastener 28comprises a fast locking device which can be hand tightened to a degreethat the wire will not slip therethrough. The fastener comprises anelongate bolt 28a externally threaded at one end thereof and having anenlarged head at the other end thereof, a lock washer 28b adjacent theenlarged bolt head, an elongate oval metal piece 280 next thereto, then,on the other side of the turnbuckle screw member 2012, a washer 28d anda wing nut 28c. This is the assembly for the quick tightening end of theturnbuckle. For a more or less permanent connection on the other end ofthe turnbuckle, if such is desired rather than a knot engagement as seenin the views of FIGS. 1 and 2, the wing nut of the view of FIG. 4 may bereplaced by a typical hex-headed nut and the lock washer of FIG. 4 neednot be used. This last described assembly permits the relativelypermanent affixing of the wire at one end of the turnbuckle bytightening down the hex headed nut (in factory assembly) and leaves theother end of the turnbuckle and the easily loosened wing nut assemblyfree for sliding engagement of the cable in operation. The elongate ovalmetal piece 280 acts as both an integral part of the eye-bolt clipassembly and as a stay to prevent the turning of the eye-bolt 20b. Inoperation, as the turnbuckle is tightened, the eye-bolt thereof tends toturn with the turnbuckle and twist the wire. This would make the totalassembly inoperable and must be prevented. The oval metal pieces 28c,one on each eye-bolt, merely rotate around (but less than and restagainst the frame; then all subsequent turns of the turnbuckle cageactually pull things together. This eliminates the possibility oftwisting the wire and, accordingly, assures the possible long use of thewire without fraying or breaking. In the tightening of the clip 28together, the wire is compressed against the two rounded top and bottomsurfaces of the eye in the turnbuckle eye-bolt as the wing nut istightened, forcing the two flat metal pieces against the eye-bolt. Therounded surfaces of the eye-bolt are relatively important because anysquare corners would tend to cut the wire.

A nominal length of wire for a typical framing device is some 9 feet.This would permit the assembly of all frames with a perimeter ofslightly less than 9 feet. Extra wire may be provided to permit theassembly of frames or other multiple part construction of any size,however, since the corner members will be adequate (provided there arethe same number of corners having the same angle in two differentdevices) and are the primary members required for actual assembly. It isalso preferable to provide the equivalent of both the rough and thefinal connection and tensioning means, that is, both the equivalent ofclip 21 and turnbuckle 20. It is not practical to achieve a necessarydegree of tension and force application merely through the use of clip21 alone. It should be understood, however, that, if a means is providedfor a rough initial closing of the wire or cable circle, such as a knotin the wire or cable 14 above turnbuckle screw 20b, this may sufiice forthe then further application of tension through turnbuckle 20.

The same device can be used in the assembly of other forms andstructures. Chairs, boxes, cabinets and the like are representative ofsuch constructions. The instant framing device is useful and applicablein such larger forms in many instances where other presently availabledevices for the same purposes could not be utilized at all or in apractical manner.

As noted above, the corner members can themselves have any profile ofinternally facing surface (in transverse section). However, it is morepractical to provide smooth internal faces on corner members 1013,inclusive, and prepare matching inserts, that is, inserts havingmatching internally facing surfaces to match the outer surfaces ofparticular frame pieces. Therefore, regardless of external sectionalprofile of a frame piece, the primary function and goal of the framingassembly is still available and operable, namely, to achieve theconcentration of a reasonable compressive force directly into and acrossthe frame piece faces to be joined together.

Another advantage is found in the operative capacity of the assemblywhich permits the user to tighten the turnbuckle with one hand at a rateand at times which permit intermediate and final adjustments oralignments of the corner members simultaneously with the other hand. Inthis regard, the sliding lever arm 20d is preferably provided integralwith and coacting with the cage 200 of the turnbuckle to facilitate andsimplify the onehanded tightening operation. It may be seen that theinstant assembly makes it far easier and more convenient for one man tohandle completely and with relative case a framing or joining operationof the most varied sort. Pulley 15 is not required to make the cablemotion through the corner members relatively friction free during thetightening operation. In almost any conceivable operation or use,internal smoothing or coating of these passages by low frictionsubstances would provide an acceptable low friction surface. Theprovision of both the initial and final engaging and tightening downmeans minimizes these problems as the turnbuckle will drag the wire intoproper tightening relationship through even a high friction passagearrangement.

Some modern glues reportedly do not require compressive force to assurepermanent bonding. Regardless of the glue type, the instant device maybe used in the same manner for perfect alignment of the frame assembly.In this case, the compression of the glued faces would be incidental tothe alignment operation but would of course result in the mostsatisfactorily assembled frame. The cost and simplicity of this devicewill permit its use by the most elemental home craftsman and, at thesame time, its extreme efiiciency will almost dictate its use by themost skilled craftsman.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it will be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A device for aligningand engaging the individual elements of an integral frame in properassemblage array comprising a plurality of corner members each adaptedto engage with inner portions thereof outer portions of the two frameelements at a corner juncture thereof;

cable means engaging sequentially said corner members via passagestherethrough;

means for simultaneously permitting the fixed engagement of said cableat two positions along the length thereof including the corner memberstherebetween and tensioning the portion of said cable carrying saidmember;

said latter means comprising a turnbuckle construction incorporating acentral cage portion with loop ended screw members threadably engagingopposite ends thereof,

one turnbuckle loop fixedly engaged by said cable length at one of saidpositions and the other turnbuckle loop fixedly engaged by said cablelength at the other of said positions;

and means at one end of said turnbuckle for one of said fixedengagements comprising an elongate bolt externally threaded at one endthereof and having an enlarged head at the other end thereof;

said bolt extending through one of the turnbuckle loops,

an elongate member mounted on said bolt and positioned next to saidturnbuckle loop on side thereof;

a washer also mounted on said bolt and positioned next to saidturnbuckle loop on the other side thereof; and nut means threadablyengaged on said bolt adapted with the enlarged head of the latter tocompact therebetween said elongate member and washer on said bolt towardsaid turnbuckle loop in such manner as to fixedly seize the cableportion passing through the turnbuckle loop against said loop;

the length of said elongate member suflficient on one side thereof thatsame will contact the frame in rotation of said turnbuckle screw memberthereby preventing twisting of said cable as the turnbuckle is tighteneddown.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means at each end of saidturnbuckle for fixed engagement of the cable therewith are the same.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the turnbuckle central cage portionhas rod means transfixing same intermediate of the ends thereof throughpassages formed therethrough in opposition to one another, said rodmeans slidable to and fro through said passages in alternate extensionfrom opposite sides of said cage when the cage is rotated andenlargements on the end of the rod positioned outwardly of the cagepreventing disengagement of the rod from said cage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,657 9/1899Muller 269108 891,121 6/1908 Wichers 269108 1,012,008 12/1911 Post 287-1,286,701 12/1918 Mathias 287-60 1,338,062 4/1920 Wolfe 24-125 1,528,1053/1925 Froelich et a1 269-108 1,991,669 2/1935 Hausrnan 24125 2,691,99610/1954 McNair 269108 FOREIGN PATENTS 64,309 12/1913 Austria.

WILLIAM W. DYER, ]R., Primary Examiner.

FRANK SUSKO, ROBERT C. RIGRDON, Examiners.

1. A DEVICE FOR ALIGNING AND ENGAGING THE INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF ANINTEGRAL FRAME IN PROPER ASSEMBLAGE ARRAY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFCORNER MEMBERS EACH ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH INNER PORTIONS THEREOF OUTERPORTIONS OF THE TWO FRAME ELEMENTS AT A CORNER JUNCTURE THEREOF; CABLEMEANS ENGAGING SEQUENTIALLY SAID CORNER MEMBERS VIA PASSAGESTHERETHROUGH; MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PERMITTING THE FIXED ENGAGEMENTOF SAID CABLE AT TWO POSITIONS ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF INCLUDING THECORNER MEMBERS THEREBETWEEN SAID TENSIONING THE PORTION OF SAID CABLECARRYING SAID MEMBER; SAID LATTER MEANS COMPRISING A TURNBUCKLECONSTRUCTION INCORPORATING A CENTRAL CAGE PORTION WITH LOOP ENDED SCREWMEMBERS THREADABLY ENGAGING OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, ONE TURNBUCKLE LOOPFIXEDLY ENGAGED BY SAID CABLE LENGTH AT ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND THEOTHER TURNBUCKLE LOOP FIXEDLY ENGAGED BY SAID CABLE LENGTH AT THE OTHEROF SAID POSITIONS; AND MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID TURNBUCKLE FOR ONE OFSAID FIXED ENGAGEMENTS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BOLT EXTERNALLY THREADEDAT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING AN ENLARGED HEAD AT THE OTHER END THEREOF;SAID BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF THE TURNBUCKLE LOOPS; AN ELONGATEMEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BOLT AND POSITIONED NEXT TO SAID TURNBUCKLE LOOPON SIDE THEREOF; A WASHER ALSO MOUNTED ON SAID BOLT AND POSITIONED NEXTTO SAID TURNBUCKLE LOOP ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF; AND NUT MEANSTHREADABLY ENGAGED ON SAID BOLT ADAPTED WITH THE ENLARGED HEAD OF THELATER TO COMPACT THEREBETWEEN SAID ELONGATE MEMBER AND WASHER ON SAIDBOLT TOWARD SAID TURNBUCKLE LOOP IN SUCH MANNER AS TO FIXEDLY SEIZE THECABLE PORTION PASSING THROUGH THE TURNBUCKLE LOOP AGAINST SAID LOOP; THELENGTH OF SAID ELONGATE MEMBER SUFFICIENT ON ONE SIDE THEREOF THAT SAMEWILL CONTACT THE FRAME IN ROTATION OF SAID TURNBUCKLE SCREW MEMBERTHEREBY PREVENTING TWISTING OF SAID CABLE AS THE TURNBUCKLE IS TIGHTENEDDOWN.